Content provided by legal writers
Medical malpractice is a distressing reality for those who place their trust in healthcare providers, expecting professional care and attention. Although most medical treatments are performed without issue, a small percentage often results in errors that can cause significant harm.
These errors, ranging from surgical mistakes to misdiagnoses, can have life-altering effects. If you live in Galveston and have been affected by the negligence of a medical professional, seeking legal guidance from Galveston medmal attorneys can help you navigate the legal process and understand your rights.
While medical malpractice is rare, its impact can be devastating. The injuries resulting from negligence can be both physically and emotionally overwhelming, disrupting your life in ways you might not expect.
Common Injuries You Could Sustain
Here are examples of the types of injuries a victim of medical malpractice can suffer.
Infections from Surgical Errors
Sometimes, during surgery, things can go wrong. Surgeons are supposed to make sure everything is cleaned properly and all tools and equipment are sterile, meaning they’re free of germs.
But if a surgical instrument, like a sponge or a tool, is left inside your body by accident, it can cause an infection. This is something doctors are very careful about, but when it happens, it can lead to serious health problems.
An infection can spread throughout your body, making you sicker and requiring more surgeries to fix it. You might need to stay in the hospital longer, and it could be weeks or even months before you feel better again. Plus, the longer it takes to catch an infection, the more damage it can do.
Nerve Damage
Nerve damage is one of those injuries that can be really scary because nerves control a lot of what we do. Nerves help us move, feel things, and even control our organs.
If something goes wrong during surgery or a medical procedure, the nerves can get hurt, and when this happens, it could lead to long-term problems.
Internal Bleeding
Internal bleeding happens when blood leaks out of the blood vessels inside your body. You can’t always see it happening because it’s inside, but it can be just as dangerous as bleeding on the outside.
During surgery or medical procedures, doctors work with sharp instruments, and sometimes they accidentally cut a blood vessel. When this happens, blood starts to spill out into areas where it shouldn’t be. This can cause swelling, bruising, and intense pain. If the bleeding doesn’t stop on its own, it can lead to more serious problems, like shock or organ damage.
You might need additional surgeries to fix internal bleeding. Doctors will often need to go in and stop the bleeding before it causes any further damage.
Scarring and Disfigurement
If a surgeon makes a mistake during a procedure, like cutting in the wrong place or not stitching you up properly after an operation, it can lead to bigger scars than expected.
Sometimes the scar tissue might grow in a way that affects your body’s function or appearance, and it can be emotionally tough to deal with.
For example, a scar from surgery might make it hard to move a joint properly, like your knee or shoulder, or it might leave a visible mark on your face or another part of your body. People might feel self-conscious or distressed about how they look, especially if the scar is on the face.
Organ Damage or Removal
This one is as serious as it sounds. Sometimes, during surgery, a mistake can lead to damage to an organ. This can happen if a doctor cuts something they shouldn’t or if the wrong organ is removed. In rare cases, doctors can even accidentally remove a healthy organ.
The body relies on each organ to do its job, and if something goes wrong, it can affect your overall health and even lead to life-threatening complications.
Sometimes, the damage is so severe that doctors have no choice but to remove an organ altogether. This could mean living with a condition that requires ongoing medical care.
This content is provided by an independent source for informational purposes only and does not contain legal advice. Consult an attorney or financial advisor when making decisions. This information is provided by legal writers and does not reflect the views or opinions of The Daily Sundial editorial staff.
